Just the Facts: Fluid and Electrolytes
Karen Bramley
Just the Facts: Fluid and Electrolytes First Edition 2005 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins 323 Norristown Road Suite 200 Ambler, PA. 19002 www.lww.com ISBN 1-58255-340-8 244 pages, soft cover/spiral bound, $34.95
Just the Facts: Fluids and Electrolytes contains a lot of useful information, especially for the new graduate. It is very easy reading and the chapters flow along nicely. The start of the book reviews the basics of fluid balance. The next few chapters focus on electrolyte balance, acid base balance, and hydration statuses. The chapters that follow review the basic hyper and hypo-electrolyte imbalances. Most interesting are the bullet points given in each chapter allowing you to easily pull facts from these areas. The diagrams given in each chapter review the basic principles of the electrolyte systems involved and how the mechanisms work for that process. These diagrams are extremely helpful for visualizing the occurring events. The pathophysiology given for each electrolyte is an excellent review. An end of chapter summary gives helpful ways to prevent and manage the imbalances and lists drugs that may cause the imbalance. The chapters involving the acid-base imbalances are very in-depth. You are able to visualize the pathophysiology by the excellent diagrams given, signs and symptoms, diagnostic test results and management of the problem.
The next chapters focus on metabolic disorders that can cause electrolyte imbalances. The review of the heart, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and bums are all very thorough and well written. The last chapter deals with treatments of these disorders and explain how the treatment options, intravenous replacement, total parental nutrition (TPN), dialysis, and transfusions will maintain or correct the disorder. All sections have helpful alert warnings at the end of the chapter to inform the reader about age issues, drug administration or interactions regarding the subject matter.
This book would be a wonderful resource for both new graduates mad more experienced nurses who would like a basic review of human fluids and electrolytes. All in all, this is an excellent book with a pages of useful information for everyday practice.
Karen Bramley RN, CNN, CCTC
Clinical Transplant Coordinator
Porter Adventist Hospital
Member, ANNA High County Chapter
COPYRIGHT 2005 Jannetti Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group
